Cannes photoshoot

While at Cannes, Kellyn had a small impromptu photoshoot on the beautiful French Riviera.
(Kellyn with the producers of the film "Where are you Sophia?"-the director, Nagendra Karri, is to the right of Kellyn)

Kellyn Lindsay in Suite at Cannes 2009!

have been lucky that Kellyn being the sweet girl that she is, has sent me lots of photos of her in the dress. She was supposed to wear the dress last wednesday, but due to less than spectacular weather in France, she wore the dress to the showing on friday. The dress looks absolutely stunning on her!
More pictures to come later this week!

Schiaparelli

Those people who know me, know that I have an affinity, slightly leaning towards obsession, for Elsa Schiaparelli. Elsa was an italian fashion designer who opened a fashion house is Paris and spent time in New York and California, among other various places. She was inspired by surrealist artists, who were also her friends.
If you are not familiar with her work, look it up. You will not be disappointed that you did. trust me.
At the age of fourteen, Schiaparelli was already a published writer. So it is not surprising that she also wrote an autobiography about her truly intriguing life, as an adult.

So my birthday is coming up soon, which means that my grandmother and mom have been on the hunt for treasures for me. Lucky me because they have very good taste.
Well this present left me speechless...

Inside the always beautifully wrapped package, I first found a petite bottle of "Shocking" a perfume by Schiaparelli. I was like, awww, how sweet!

Next came a first edition (pictured above) of the autobiography of Schiaparelli I mentioned before, Shocking Life. I was so excited.
Further examining the book, I found the inscription, "Property of Reginald MacFarland xmas 1954". Oh, how personal!

Then I revealed the last gift in the box. It was a letter that was found in the book addressed to Mr. MacFarland----from Elsa herself.

BEST present ever.

Well, you might not be as excited as I am, but holding something from Elsa herself just about left me speechless. The letter says this: (there are some parts I have trouble reading, but here is my best try)

April 23, 1960

Dear Mr. MacFarland,

Thank you so much for your nice letter. I am glad you liked the fragrance (?). It was great fun to talk to American (?).

Sincerely yours,

Elsa Schiaparelli

Oh, and as fate may have it, the letter was sent from France on my birthday, April 25. Don't you just love coincidences?
I have such a respect and love for Schiaparelli, that this gift was truly special for me.

Practically perfect in every way

Help the Cedar Rapids Public Library

I was on fredflare.com (which has the cutest gifts ever!), and I read that the fred flare team is helping the Cedar Rapids Public Library, which was flooded earlier this year, to rebuild it's stock of books.
check out the details here:
http://www1.fredflare.com/blog/?p=3128#comments

You can help by purchasing a book for the library through their amazon.com wishlist.
(click here for link to wishlist)

I just donated a book about purse embroidery techniques. When I was little, I was like a tiny sponge soaking up all the information and images from books in the local public library. I still enjoy the sense of discovery and possibility when I walk into a library and all the knowledge and stories that await silently in the wooden shelves. I get all this from my mom, who is an avid readers (the fastest I know) and library aficionado. One day she hopes to build a small personal library in our house (card catalogue and all!), but until then, we can help rebuild this little public library in need.
So if you can, find a book on the list that speaks to you in some way, and share it with generations to come!

"Most Fashionable Gifts"

I usually don't head out to shop the Friday after Thanksgiving for the following reasons:

1) I live in Italy where Thanksgiving doesn't exsist, therefore neither does "Black Friday"

and

2) I prefer to shop in peace without the crowds

While I am crazy enough to camp out for things I like {ie. Saturday Night Live tickets and even at one time Nsync, which is quite embarrasing to admit seeing that I was a freshman in college at the time} I probably would not sleep outside the mall after eating Thanksgiving dinner in order to save a buck. I really enjoy making and giving presents, and I like the charm of a leisure stroll through the city to find the perfect treasure for a friend.


Anyway, I saw this commercial this morning for H&M, and I wanted to share it. It's fashionable, surreal and a true gift for the eyes!

Sketchbook Sketches

I wanted to share some of my sketches from the Suite Spring/Summer 2009 Collection. Brainstorming and sketching are some of my favorite parts of the design process. My "girls" tend to resemble a Bridget Bardot character, with teased hair and thick black eyeliner.